Slim and Fit with a Vegetarian DietReady to Give That a Try?

If yes, perhaps you'd find awell-planned
vegetarian diet helping you attain/maintain a
more-slender body...plus, some pretty good health besides. But maybe vegetarianism draws you because of your personal philosophy, as well?
That's fine, too. Whatever your reasons for making healthful dietary
modifications, and the number of those you make, belong to you.

And you're
probably not looking for complications and/or absolutes, right? Like,
for example, having to go "cold-turkey" with many or even most of the
foods/flavors you presently enjoy and/or learning a bunch of new recipes
really fast.

Instead, you can transition to a vegetarian diet, or a partially vegetarian diet, the easy way—with small steps and in gradual stages. *I did it that way myself.

A simple first step? Gradually begin adding more fruits and veggies (F&V) to your diet. Maybe you've been meaning to do that, anyway...or perhaps wonder if it might be a good idea, since the Cookie Monster™ himself apparently now eats fruits and veggies occasionally. Who knew?!

However modest and gradual, small steps such as these really can lead you and even Cookie-Man to a healthier diet. Whether or not you ultimately choose a fully plant-based diet, you win, because fruits and veggies can likely help you become slimmer and more fit whether you eat them exclusively or not.

*Please understand that I am not a dietitian—just someone who's learned how to "do" vegetarianism by doing it. See the disclaimer.

Making a Vegetarian Diet Work for YOU

If you're relatively new to vegetarian eating, making your transition
in steps and by degrees actually pays off. By all means, add in some F&V, some grains and legumes, but don't
attempt a dietary one-eighty in just a few days. If you do, your body may find that sudden load of fiber "challenging," to say the least. (Catching my drift here?)

Instead, begin with a simple modification: perhaps easing in one or two more veggie servings every few days and also trying out a different fruit or vegetable now and then.

Then,
gradually add in more F&V and perhaps a legume or two now and then. You might also begin cutting back on meat, moving as quickly or slowly as
feels right to you and also buddying up to flexibility and compromise.

As an example, perhaps one day you have a serious letch
for some meat. In that case, you might build your next meal around a hearty meat substitute. Or, simply eat less meat than you might otherwise do.

So, instead of an entire steak,
pork chop, or chicken breast, perhaps you might make (or order) a dish containing a few pieces of meat among the other ingredients. Again, flexibility, compromise, and some imagination help do the job.

Getting Enough Protein

Although some of us may require less protein than once believed, if you drop meat you will need to pay at least some attention to your protein intake. But already, you're possibly consuming many non-meat proteins: not only grains and legumes, but perhaps also meat substitutes such as tofu and maybe even seitan.

Moreover, if
you're not vegan, you'll have the whole spectrum of dairy as well. And
don't forget that vegetables themselves often contain protein. The links below will take you to discussions of certain proteins that can work well on a vegetarian diet, but do please understand that there are others as well.

Soy and SeitanHere are a couple of common meat substitutes that can be very handy to have around: soy products and seitan...to continue, click here.

Grains and LegumesExcellent vegetarian protein sources,
legumes and grains also score highly for fiber, folate, and vitamin B.
And more good news: despite their low fat content...to continue, click here.

Dairy and Meat SubstitutesFor vegetarians, dairy products can provide quite a lot of protein (if you're not lactose intolerant). And, since they often come in low-fat and non-fat versions...to continue, click here.

Bottom Line

Because any healthful change in your eating habits calls for
celebration, please don't beat yourself up for whatever "time-outs" you choose to take during the transition. But keep the fruits and veggies coming, right?

When/If you decide to give some degree of vegetarianism another shot, just step back onto whatever path feels right to You. And yes, your transition really could be as simple as that: not always effortless, perhaps, but basically simple. Plus, you can find support here and from many, many other sources just for the taking. So, is this the day you go for the slimmer, fitter bod??I vote yes, but yours is the vote that counts. ;-)

*I will receive a small commission for products you purchase from Amazon as a result of clicking the link above.

The material at this site is NOT medical advice, as I am neither doctor nor nutritionist. What I am is merely someone who's lived successfully on a vegetarian diet for many decades...and I transitioned from omnivore to vegetarian gradually. Please check with your doctor if you're considering big changes to your own diet. Also, be sure to find a dependable source of Vitamin B12.